A question for old timers

[robert roy]

Reading forum threads I get the impression that, while having an all around detector is nice, if one
is becoming a serious detectionist, one might WANT more than one detector just because one IS better at silver than another, or better at finding gold than XYZ brand etc. It seems that in trying to make the best all around detector , the manufacture has to sacrifice in one area or another. Any commets from the old timers?

Robert Roy

 

[Skillet]

I've used a fair number of machines and done quite a bit of testing concerning not only depth, but target separation and trash-masking, performance in mineralized matrix's etc.

Resulting from testing and experience, it seems to me that different machines will handle different tasks better in one environment, and not so well in others.

The machine I use for hunting jewelry and coins around a swimming pool isn't the best choice for hunting relics in square nails. The best machine for hunting wet beach sand may not be the best choice for parks, laden with modern trash. One machine may be better in iron, and the next does better in aluminum trash. Sometimes you'll want accurate target ID and depth readings, other times you won't need it at all. Your best coinshooter might not work well at all hunting for nuggets in the gold-fields.

Example: My Tejon cuts through small iron very well and hits lower conductivity targets deeeep. Most of my Garretts handle modern trash better. My Explorer goes really deep on coins, but lacks the target separation of some of the others and likes a slow swing to do well. My new IDX Pro seems to be an excellent coin hunter, but doesn't give up quite enough information to be my best machine for pulling nickels in pulltabs, etc etc etc....

So, IMO there's no one machine that does the best at everything. They all seem to have strengths and weaknesses. The best way to get the best performance from any one machine under varying conditions is to get different-sized coils for it. Right now I have 10 machines (soon to be 11) and have smaller coils for them all. A new coil is like getting a new machine.

If one manufacturer ever does make a machine that is the best at everything, then the others will soon be out of business!

HH!
Skillet

 

[robert roy]

So, unless you like collecting and trying out diffrent machines, having a number of coils for your existing machines might be the way to go.
It seems it would be a burden to carry around so many machines. I have the Ace 250, an MXT and soon to get the F2 or possibly the F4.
I have all the coils for the Ace, and only the 950 and 5.3 for my MXT. I have given some thought to getting one of the excellerator coils for the MXT but not sure which one. I am also considering a Tesoro Saber just to see what it can do. The thing is I think I might end up collecting too many. But as one person once told me, "you can NEVER have too many detectors."

Regards
Robert R

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah I've got a buddy who has about 22 or so.

Bill

 

[jackintexas]

I have twelve....Jack

 

[Uncle Willy]

You need a few more. I used to have 13 but cut down to eight, but that number may rise.

Bill

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

This would be a cheap self funding hobby if only I could stop buying detectors for long enough! Sometimes I hate the net, as it lets you window shop too easily. With window shopping comes the "I want" bug. So far I've found around $1900's (nearly $900 with the Ace), but I've spent around $2700. I hope that I can hold off long enough to reach break even. Oh, why were we afflicted with such wanton desire!
Mick Evans.

 

[John 'n' W.Va]

[quote Uncle Willy]Yeah I've got a buddy who has about 22 or so.

Bill[/quote]

I not that buddy. I have one and I know it well. When finances will allow I need to get a detector with ground balance. If I still lived in Fl. I wouldn't need to buy another MD'er because I didn't need GB. I went 11"+ on a quarter and Bills says most coins are 6" less. I beat out my buddy with his MXT. I got a signal on a cent he couldn't even pick up. It only hit on every other swing with the Ace, but the pp picked it up. I read the other forums where they say that their MD'er go down deep, 6 or 7 inches on a cent. I do that with the Ace using the sniper coil.
It is hard for me to understand how someone could own so many detectors. I can understand one for water, one coin or relic and if you do prospecting. I am not one for buying every fad that comes a long. If something came a long that I really wanted. I would get it and if I liked it, sell the ones I wasn't using. I can see having a back up MD'er. Is it just a man thing where we have to have the competitive edge on the other guy. There are MD'ers that came out in the 90's that still have a competitive edge today. There are probably two issues. One is money and the other being content in life. I am not running out and buying an F 2, just because it is newer and might edge the Ace in a few points. It is sort of like guns. I have friends that has every new one that come out. I have a shot gun for birds etc. I have a 30-06 for big game. A 22 riffle for small game and a hand gun for scum bags. I have all bases covered. I am not buying any more guns. If I know how to use them well, I will get what I am after.

 

[awhitster]

I / we have 2 now. Both Ace 250's.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Well my buddy has been at it for many years ( maybe longer than me ). He is a geologist, miner, teacher, and author of several books on nuggetshooting, prospecting, drywashing, He nuggetshoots all over the country, even to Alaska and has found a slew of gold. He has written for all the treasure and prospecting mags and has field tested detectors, so he has accumulated a few over the years and I don't think he ever parts with any of them. If I hadn't of separated myself from a few I would probably have that many. Probably three or four years ago I had 13, now I'm down to seven or eight. I just sold my X5 awhile back because I hardly ever got to use it. There for awhile every time I turned around Garret was sending me one to test so I was busy using those. Depending on what you do in this hobby it doesn't take long for them to add up.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

You better slow down bud and let your finds catch up with your wants. But I know it's hard.

Bill